Anyone with knowledge of dogs?

Biggravy22 said:

My wifes family dog is a pitbull named taz. He's the biggest suck in the world, so I know if it's raised correctly chances are your pit will be nicer than a pomeranian.

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Chances are? I'd say, compared to a Pom, he WILL be nicer. Problem is that when a Pom decides to go rage no one really gets hurt. In my honest opinion that's the main reason why you might want to consider an absolutely no teeth rule with the dog. Others have suggested redirection and I think that is quite appropriate and far more desirable. It prevents confusion for sure.

Biggravy22 said:

Moosie has only displayed aggression once, and it was to protect us. We were walking and a siberian husky approached us with his tail straight up in the air. Moose who's tail was wagging at the time stopped immediatley. The dog showed his teeth and barked, and moose went into defensive mode. We were frightened until we took him over our neighbors house who owns a boxer and they played like little kids.Oh im down with socialization. I don't want any fear aggression coming from him.

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This is what my Ridgie has done, and one thing I have not been able to break her of -- she will not allow other dogs between me and her. She's very interesting in how she does it, too, because first she'll put a shoulder into the other dog and physically "herd" them away from me if they ignore the initial physical signals. If they ignore her and come back, she'll take them by the face and push them off. If they ignore that, then she will throw it DOWN, hard. I've been working with her to stop it, I'm pack leader and I decide who does what, but she just doesn't fucking buy it. She tries to establish dominance over me on a daily basis, because one day she may just win!

A quick FYI -- a wagging tail does not automatically mean submission or happiness, you need to note the position of the tail, head, ears, and watch their breathing. I can tell in a nanosecond exactly what Hazel is up to based on these signals, and her breathing is the best one. If she doesn't mind, she gets "bitten" (I have longer nails so it feels more like a bite to her) and reminded to back OFF and watch me, not whatever else it is she's trying to own.

Biggravy22 said:

I hope so. He's been so perfect we're sitting around wondering what the catch is, and how he ended up at the shelter.

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You've only had him four days, you'll figure out very quickly exactly why. My girl, by the age of 6mos., had been turned in to the shelter TWICE, both times the owners stating that she was "untrainable". She's not untrainable, she's fucking smart and even more stubborn and INSISTS on being top dog. She turned 3 in April and we've had her this 2 1/2 years, and like I said, I still have to work with her on everything because she tests, constantly.

Man, I thought the Rotties and Aussies I'd worked with were difficult? This Ridgeback is, by far, THE most persistent God damned dog I have ever encountered, EVAH. She's one gorgeous girl, though (even if her front legs are fucked up looking and she hasn't got the ridge, which I'm glad for, no sinoid dermis issues).

P.S. Mind resizing that piccie you've put up?